Special Assistant

The WBG Finance & Accounting (WFA) Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) is responsible for all aspects of the financial reporting and internal control framework for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), and the extensive Trust Fund/Partnership portfolio of these entities. WFA also leads the client shared service function for the WBG corporate expenses and WBG trust funds and ensures fiduciary responsibility for all disbursements related to Bank operations. WFA has three departments – WFA Corporate and Accounting Reporting (WFACA), WFA Financial Operations (WFAFO), and WFA Trust Fund and Loans (WFATL) – that each carry out a specific range of functions and corresponding activities and interact with a broad range of stakeholders across the WBG that enable it to fulfill its various responsibilities. WFA’s over 400 staff located across 7 different locations globally, with the largest footprints in Chennai and DC, carry out these wide range of functions for clients and stakeholders.

The WFAVP Front Office comprises a small team, led by the WFAVP Advisor, with responsibility to support the VP and the Leadership team on matters of finance and accounting, resource management, strategy, performance metrics, workforce planning, reporting and knowledge and learning. The Front Office team supports smooth organization of the VP’s schedules, preparation and/or coordination of briefings, communication and other material for the VP, and leads various VPU-wide initiatives on a recurring basis in close coordination with staff volunteers. Examples of the most recent initiatives include, but are not limited to, the competency refresh and onboarding programs, design of the summer hires program, and preparation of WFA’s Annual Report and the Annual Controllers’ Knowledge Forum.

The Front Office is seeking a GF-level staff to join the close knit and collaborative team for a one-year developmental assignment (DAIS) to proactively support and contribute to a growing work program. This role will bring you in close contact with the VPU Leadership and Management teams. The selected candidate will have an opportunity to learn a broad range of technical and non-technical areas, and skills that come with working in a fast-paced environment. The GF-level staff is expected to independently undertake and deliver on specific areas of work in coordination with other staff in the Front Office, teams across the VPU, and key partners.

The staff selected for this assignment will work under the direct supervision of and with the WFAVP Advisor to provide tactical support to the Controller and support the broad Front Office work program on a day-to-day basis. 

Program Management:

• Provide tactical support to the Advisor in the implementation of the VPU’s programs; including data analytics, delivery of reporting and monitoring mechanisms, and general support towards the execution of management meetings and workshops.
• Actively support the VPU’s career development, competencies and onboarding programs including scheduling and logistical support for the events aligned with each of these activities, monitoring and reporting on key statistics, or coordinating the compilation of relevant data, on each of these programs, and maintaining the websites for each program.
• Act as the primary liaison for the VPU’s Onboarding program including working with relevant team members to troubleshoot issues with the onboarding platform (tool) and liaising with the WFA Solutions and Transformation (WFAST) team on platform enhancements.
• Provide substantive support to designing, planning and execution of key events across the VPU, including the annual staff’s Controllers Knowledge Forum.

Technical Contributions:

• Assist in the preparation and/or consolidation of responses to technical and other documents to the Board, ECR, and Finance Partners.
• Review and evaluate the relevance of corporate documents and Board papers to the VPU; synthesize and summarize key information for the VP and Leadership Team.
• Contribute to the preparation of briefs in advance of key meetings for the VP in tandem with relevant departments in WFA.

Communications:

• Provide substantive input to the design and preparation of the annual VPU report.
• Contribute to the preparation, production, and dissemination of a range of outreach products that promote the strategic positioning of WFA and the dissemination of results to key audiences, working closely with the Front Office Special Assistant.
• Provide significant support to the coordination, planning, scheduling and logistics around the VP’s engagements, major WFA-sponsored or WFA-centric conferences and seminars, outreach programs and other engagements sponsored by WFA.

Other duties:

• Conduct research on a variety of relevant topics and prepare analytical reports to inform strategic and tactical decision-making and/or VPU priorities.
• Maintain a high-level of professional expertise and judgment and provide high-quality support to the VP and Adviser.
• Handle special assignments as directed by the Advisor.

Selection Criteria:

What you bring: 

• Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or a related field, or professional accounting/finance qualification (e.g., CA, CPA, ACCA, CFA).
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Strong project management – highly organized with excellent attention to detail and follow-through.
• Strong data analysis and synthesis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources.
• Organizational skills and ability to take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure with minimal oversight, balance competing demands and achieve agreed-upon results.
• Excellent interpersonal and written and oral communication skills and demonstrated ability to quickly visualize, create and edit written products.  Comfort and ability to prepare and present complex material succinctly.
• Strong ability to nurture and maintain relationships and communications with key stakeholders and partners.
• Outstanding team player in a multicultural environment.

In addition to the stated selection criteria, candidates should possess the following competencies:

• Thinks Critically and Conceptually – analyzes a situation and solves problems by synthesizing information to identify trends, patterns and connections.
• Communicates Effectively – clearly demonstrates active listening, shares ideas, and persuasively conveys information tailored to a variety of contexts.
• Understands and Advises Stakeholders – demonstrates a detailed understanding of stakeholders by proactively and appropriately anticipating and responding to their needs.
• Demonstrates Personal Leadership – continuously improves personal performance in one’s role by proactively identifying opportunity for personal growth, reflects on strengths, and demonstrates courage to act with integrity.
• Makes Decisions Effectively – demonstrates decision making that is timely, strategic, well communicated, and with an awareness of possible outcomes.
• Seeks Diverse Perspectives – seeks out different perspectives and experiences. Demonstrates the ability to work with others in an inclusive manner to accomplish priorities.

Source:  https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=26524&site=1